Each Friday and Monday we publish the problems that will feature in a forthcoming Dear Jeremy advice column in the Guardian Money supplement so that readers can offer their own advice and suggestions. We then print the best of your comments alongside Jeremy's own insights. Here is the latest dilemma – what are your thoughts?

I have worked as a freelance translator since 1998. In recent years, I have found it increasingly difficult to make a reasonable living without doing extra work to supplement my earnings. Between 2009 and 2011, for example, I held a two-year, fixed-term part-time appointment with Jobcentreplus. I therefore have fairly recent experience of an office environment.

I recently applied for an in-house translation post. The (very useful) feedback I received suggested that I was on a shortlist of two, but the other candidate was preferred because he had a superior knowledge of translation software (fair comment and something I can obviously work on improving) and also because there was a feeling that, having been a freelancer for as long as I have, I might struggle to adjust to in-house work.

I know what the employer is getting at, but I thought that an experienced freelancer would bring different skills and assets to the table (self-motivation, initiative, negotiation skills, awareness of deadlines.) I clearly did not "sell" these effectively during the interview and it may of course be the case that those qualities were not quite what the employer was looking for. However, I would have hoped that my part-time and temporary work has enabled me to keep in touch with developments in office work.

• For Jeremy's and readers' advice on a work issue, send a brief email to dear.jeremy@theguardian.com. Please note that he is unable to answer questions of a legal nature or reply personally.